Map Credit ECDC
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When SARS was burning its way through parts of China a decade ago - and the Chinese government actively hid that information from its people, its doctors, and the rest of the world - one man boldly went before the TV cameras and told the truth.
That man was Zhong Nanshan, director of Guangzhou's Institute of Respiratory Diseases and a member of China’s Academy of Sciences.
Zhong did something that isn’t normally conducive to good health and long life in China . . . he publicly challenged official government statements.
In doing so, Zhong Nanshan became a much respected and revered household name in China. And since that time, he has repeatedly voiced his opinions, even when they contradict the `official line’ of the Chinese government.
As an example, In 2009, a critical Zhong Nanshan On China’s Death Toll, suggested that the number of pandemic H1N1 deaths was much higher than the Chinese government was admitting.
And in Zhong Nanshan On Asymptomatic Poultry, he warned that healthy-appearing birds may still carry the H5N1 virus. Something that also appears to be relevant with this new H7N9 virus.
This morning China’s state media reported that new testing reagents are now being distributed around the country to aid in the detection of the H7N9 virus.
This from Xinhua News.
China reinforces H7N9 detection, prevention measures
18:45, April 07, 2013
BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Testing reagents for the H7N9 avian influenza virus have been distributed among 409 flu monitoring sites across the country, China's center for disease control said Sunday.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention also provided major infectious disease hospitals and research agencies with testing materials and methods for the newly discovered type of bird flu, according to the center.
Today Zhong Nanshan, quoted in a CNTV story called Expert calls for enhanced H7N9 screening, states:
"Analysis shows that the H7N9 virus comes from fowl, including poultry, wild fowl migrating birds and pigeons. We should expand the range of screening as not so many people have direct contact with poultry. "
Despite no direct evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus, Zhong is calling for stricter monitoring for the virus, and that screening for the virus should not be limited to poultry:
"The earlier we use the screening reagent, the earlier we can detect the disease. This gives us more time to treat the condition and reduce the death rate."
Zhong also recommends that the government cover the cost of treatment of H7N9.
The report goes on to state that many are queuing to buy over-the-counter or Chinese traditional flu remedies (which other news reports suggest are sold out in some areas), but warns there is no proof they will be effective.
